San Antonio hospitals start screening visitors for coronavirus

University Hospital is screening and limiting the number of visitors who can see patients because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

University Hospital is screening and limiting the number of visitors who can see patients because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News File Photo

Photo: San Antonio Express-News File Photo

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University Hospital is screening and limiting the number of visitors who can see patients because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

University Hospital is screening and limiting the number of visitors who can see patients because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News File Photo

San Antonio hospitals start screening visitors for coronavirus

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Hospitals across San Antonio are curtailing access to their facilities and screening visitors for symptoms of the novel coronavirus, a signal that the local health care system is gearing up for community spread of the virus.

University Hospital announced Thursday — a day after the virus reached pandemic levels — that it will begin funneling visitors to three entrances at the hospital and close all others starting at 5 a.m. Friday.

Anyone coming into the hospital will be screened for symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough and shortness of breath. Visitors will also be asked about recent travel history to areas that have high transmission of the virus.

Only those who pass the screening will be allowed to enter through the main entrance and the adult and pediatric emergency room entrances.

Patients at University will also be limited to two visitors per day. Visitation rules may be even more stringent for units or floors where there is a large concentration of patients with compromised immune systems.

The hospital is encouraging friends and family to limit face-to-face visitation and instead contact patients through other means, such as calls, texts or video messaging.

The measures are similar to those implemented at Methodist hospitals last week. Visitors coming to limited entrances at that system’s hospitals will also be assessed for potential symptoms and travel history. If they are symptomatic, they will be turned away and told to self-quarantine at home, said Allen Harrison, president and CEO of Methodist Healthcare.

Baptist Health System’s precautionary changes for visitors, which take effect Friday, are along the same lines, including taking visitors’ temperatures as they enter. Entry points have been adjusted, and additional hand sanitizing stations have been set up.

COVID-19 patients who are hospitalized in Baptist facilities, as well as those under suspicion of having the virus, will not be allowed to have visitors.